Villa Comunale Park in Taormina
Villa Comunale, one of the most beautiful places to visit in Taormina, is the public garden and the main green area of the city. It is also called the Trevelyan Park because it was created in the mid-19th century by Florence Trevelyan, the same Englishwoman of noble origin to whom the garden on Isola Bella is also owed.
Entrance Tickets and Opening Hours
Villa Comunale is located near the Greek Theatre of Taormina. The main entrance is on Via Bagnoli Croci. Access is free; no entrance tickets are required.
You can visit the garden during the following hours:
- January 12 - March 28, 2026: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- March 29 - May 31, 2026: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
- June 1 - October 25, 2026: 8:00 AM - 12 AM
History of the Garden
Settled in Taormina and married to the local mayor, Florence purchased several plots of land and abandoned houses on a hillside near the famous Hotel Timeo, where she had first lived. On this area, she created her English-style garden, planting Mediterranean and exotic species.
Between 1897 and 1898, she built several decorative pavilions of Oriental inspiration, which she used to call "the beehives". In these pavilions (which some categorized as "Victorian follies") made of bricks, wood, tiles, and columns, Florence would have tea and observe the birds in the garden. She loved the park and called it her "Sicilian Hallington", as it reminded her of the place where she grew up.
Florence Trevelyan died in 1907. She wished to be buried on Monte Venere, above the village of Castelmola, on one of the properties she owned. Since 1922, Villa Comunale has belonged to the city of Taormina and bears the name of its creator: Florence Trevelyan Park.
Visiting Villa Comunale Park
Villa Comunale covers an area of 22,400 m². A walk along the shaded alleys of the park, among flowers, pines, cypresses, olive trees, and palm trees, is a delight, especially during the scorching days of the Sicilian summer.
Entering the garden through the main gate, you will spot a bronze statue representing a couple with angel wings. It is a contemporary work by sculptor Piero Guidi, titled Angeli del nostro tempo ("Angels of Our Time"). According to the author, it is a hymn to love, dedicated to "all people, men and women, who had the capacity to save themselves by doing something sublime and who overcame life's obstacles with dignity, courage, and imagination".
Along the main alley, there are also monuments to the soldiers and sailors of Sicily who fell in the First World War, as well as a cannon from 1915.
At the end, a panoramic path bordered by cypresses and colorful bougainvillea bushes awaits you. From here, you are offered one of the most beautiful views in Taormina, towards the area near Giardini Naxos and Mount Etna.
